Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Disorders - PDF - Kaleida Health

Treatment
✔ Increase support from those around you.
This may be your spouse/partner, family,
friends, church or babysitters.
✔ Talk to your OB/GYN or your baby’s
pediatrician right away. The sooner you
ask for help, the sooner you’ll begin to
feel better.
✔ Ask for a list of referrals for specialists in
women’s mood disorders. This may
include psychiatrists or therapists.
✔ Let someone else watch your baby so you
can get a break.
✔ Be sure your doctor considers other
medical causes of depression,
such as thyroid imbalances.
✔ Consider
attending a
support group
for women with
postpartum
depression.
Local Treatment Resources
The Postpartum Depression Support
Group:
Mom’s -T.E.A.R.S.
(Treatment, Education, Advocacy,
Resources, Support.)
At Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital
2nd Thursday of the month FREE
Please call (716) 568-3628 to register
Educational
Resources/References
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital Childbirth
Education Department
(716)-568-3628
www.kaleidahealth.org/childbirth
The Postpartum Resource Center of
New York, Inc.
Toll Free Helpline 1-855-631-0001
(631)-422-2255
www.postpartumny.org
Postpartum Support International
www.postpartum.net
warmline: 1-800-944-4PPD (4773)
(telephone support)
Postpartum Depression Support Helpline
1-800-773-6667
Father’s Website
www.postpartumdads.org
You are not alone.
You are not to blame.
With help, you will be well.
Cover: artist Annette Darling
Language assistance services are available free of charge for
anyone who has a need for an interpreter.
Tenemos servicios de ayuda en Español, para cualquiera que
necesita un intérprete.
www.kaleidahealth.org
SUB-0342 7/11
Pregnancy
and Postpartum
Mood Disorders
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Postpartum Depression (PPD) refers to a
wide range of emotional changes a woman
may experience after the birth of a baby/
Postpartum depression, anxiety, postpartum
obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic
disorder and postpartum psychosis are all
recognized as postpartum mood disorders.
Baby Blues
Up to 80% of mothers experience crying,
sadness, worry and fatigue in the first two
weeks after delivery. Symptoms usually
resolve on their own. You should ask for
and accept help from anyone you feel is
supportive.
Pregnancy/Postpartum
Anxiety
Approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10%
of postpartum women develop anxiety. Sometimes
they experience anxiety alone and sometimes
they experience it in addition to depression.
Symptoms include:
✔ Constant worry
✔ Feeling that something bad is going to
happen
✔ Racing thoughts
✔ Disturbances of sleep and appetite
✔ Inability to sit still
✔ Physical symptoms like dizziness, hot
flashes and nausea
Postpartum and antepartum anxiety are
temporary and treatable with professional
help. If you feel you may be suffering from
one of these illnesses, know that it is not your
fault and you are not to blame.
Prenatal/Postpartum
Depression
Within the first year after delivering, 10-20%
of mothers experience a more serious
depression that begins to interfere with their
daily life. Symptoms may include:
✔ Crying
✔ Irritability
✔ Excessive worry
✔ Sleep problems
✔ Rapid weight changes
✔ Difficulty focusing
✔ Lack of joy in life
✔ Not bonding with baby
✔ Suicidal thoughts
This depression is a real illness that may
impair your ability to respond to your baby.
However, this depression is a very treatable
illness and there is help available.
Postpartum Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder and
Panic Disorder
These are anxiety-based disorders that occur
in 3-5% of mothers after delivery. Most
commonly, symptoms include overwhelming
worry, recurrent images of harming your
baby, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat
and dizziness. These symptoms often
co-occur with depression so treatment
is similar. Mothers recognize these scary
thoughts do not make sense.
Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder
Approximately 1-6% of women experience
postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) following childbirth. Most often, this
illness is caused by a real or perceived trauma
during delivery or postpartum.
Symptom of postpartum PTSD
might include:
✔ Intrusive re-experiencing of a past
traumatic event
✔ Flashbacks or nightmares
✔ Anxiety and panic attacks
✔ Feeling a sense of detachment
Postpartum PTSD is temporary and treatable
with professional help.
Regardless of emotional symptoms,
you may find the following
suggestions helpful:
✔ Get plenty of rest
✔ Accept help and support from others
✔ Let someone else watch your baby so you
can get a break
✔ Be realistic about life (it’s OK if your
house is a mess)
✔ Exercise if you can
✔ Remember, you will get better!
Postpartum Psychosis
This is a psychiatric emergency that occurs
rarely (1-2/1000). Symptoms generally occur
within several weeks of delivery and include
confusion, agitation, hallucinations (seeing or
hearing things that are not there) delusions
and rapid mood swings. Mothers require
IMMEDIATE medical care.
Emergencies
Buffalo General
Hospital’s Emergency
Room
85 High Street
Buffalo, New York 14203
Erie County
Medical Center
Emergency Room
462 Grider Street
Buffalo, New York 14215
Brylin Hospital
1263 Delaware
Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209
(716) 886-8200
National Suicide
Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-8255
Crisis Services
24 hour Hotline
(716) 834-3131
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